Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-02-17

conclusive upon thisquestior. We are
not left to try free-trade through Eng
lands experience or through the ex-
perience of the people of any other
land in the world. But America has
tried 1t. We have free-trade to-day
with one country which has been in
operation now for more than seven
years. Happened to be in the House
OF Representatives when the question
OF carrying out the necessary legisla-
tiOn for the enforcement of that treaty
arose. | voted to carry il out then.
upon the ground that If | could not get
free-trade, rs a whole, with all the
! nations of the world, could get il hy
piecemeal, and by piecemeal demon
strate to the people of America that
free-trade was the true policy to adopt.
What is that country? The Hawaiian
islands-the Sandwich islands-a group
of them lying in the Pacific Ocean,
There were less than 5000 people there
then. The population has increased
but little. The census shows very lit
tie difference. In their habits, tastes,
and civilization they are the same to-
day as they were then. Before then the
same law of protective tariff which
governs all our relations with all the
nations of the world governed our rela-
tiOns with them; but this treaty nego-
tiated declared that all the products of
that country save few should come
into this country without the payment
of duty, in consideration of all Ameri-
can products going into their country
without payment of duty-practical
reciprocity, almost absolute free-trade
between those islands and the people of
the United States. If free-trade were
the foe of the manufacturer-if free
trade were the destroyer of the interests
of America-if free-trade were the
enemy of the laborer, we would expect
diminution of the little trade we had
with those 10000 people. But what is
the story?
Incredible, marvellous, almost mir
aculous! Under protection ten years
ago we sold of our American goods to
those 10000 people about $3.50, 900 a
year. The total of our trade with those
islands was less than 81 500, 900 worth a
year. Every article that was carried
between the islands and America was
carried under the British flag and in
IDllVISlI butIOIIlS, uOG Ott0 VESSEL CdTTf-
ing the American flag being engaged in
the traffic. What is the story of 1884?
We sold of our goods to the people of
those islands that year nearly So, 600, 900
worth. The total of the trade with
them approaches S12,000,000. Ninety
five per cent. Ofall the articles carried
between the two countries has been
carried in American vessels, and the
other 5 per cent. has been carried
in vessels manned by American sail
ors. And I have been informed by
ship-builders on the Pacific coast
that they have been saved from
bankruptcy by the demand which
has been made for American-built
vessels because of the free-trade
treaty between the United States
and the Sandwich Islands. have this
problem in arithmetic, as it may be
called, to submit to my protectionist
friend: If in ten years the sales of
American manufactured goods to co.
600 people will increase from $3.50, 900 a
year to So, ,000, 900 a year, how much will
be the increase when we have free trade
with the 3O,00O,0 900 of people of South
America and the 5,000,000 of the
people of Canada?. And you cannot
show me where any essential particular
the condition of the Sandwich Islands
and of the people who live there differs
from the condition of the people of
South America or of Canada. There is
little manufacturing either in the one
or IN the OJner. They have an abund-
ance of the raw meterial. They want
to buy the manufactured goods, and
they are ready to come and buy
from country that is willing to sell.
To the north of you in Chicago and the
northeast lies a country which is
almost directly north of the city
where live, Toledo Canada. Isn't it
terra incognitd? How is-it as to trade?
Do you trade much more with the peo-
pile of Canada, than you do with the
people who live in the moon? There
was day, under the reciprocity treaty,
when you did. How is it now? Why?
In the city of Toledo there was one
firm which used to sell millions of
bushels of wheat per month to Mon
treal. Do they sell any now? Do you
sellany there now?
Do you go and inquire about the
Canadian tariff laws. Twenty-Five
cents bushel duty on your American
wheat-specific. The duties run clear
through from the beginning to the end
of the schedule until Canada is about as
effectually barred by its tariff from the
United States as the United States has
barred Canada out, each seeming to
make an effort to exceed the other in
the cruelty and exclusiveness of its
legislation. And when the other day
in the Canadian Parliament a gentle
man arose and proposed committee
to negotiate new reciprocity treaty
with the United States, Sir John Mac
Donald said: mo, we have three
times attempted to make a reciprocity
treaty with the United States, and
three times have we been refused, and
this treaty shall stand until America
shall make the first proffer." And as
he avowed that day on the floor Of the
Canadian Parliament, it should stand
in retaliation for our legislation against
them. Why? Do you realize the loss
to America of this shutting out of Can
ada? 1t is stated on high authority
that within the United States where
we have free-trade between the differ
ent States of the Union, that for every
100000 of people there is nearly a
thousand millions worth of trade a
year. I will say thousand millions.
Canada is to the north of us, its people
not unlike us, with ambitions, tastes,
and necessities like ours. and there is
no reason, if Canada was in the United
States as the States are in the Union,